Using Double Bar Graphs to Analyze Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Topic

Using double bar graphs to analyze greenhouse gas emissions

Vocabulary

Double Bar Graphs

Student Exploration

How can you use double bar graphs to learn about greenhouse gas emissions?

You just learned about double bar graphs, examine the graph below created by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and published in the following BBC article http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6098922.stm. The UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty, also known as the Earth Summit, which meets to try and stabilize the greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted globally. GHG are emitted every time we burn fossil fuels to power our homes, cars or to make the items we consume, causing carbon dioxide to be emitted up into the atmosphere. Remember that double bar graphs are a great way to compare sets of data, as they are two bar graphs that are graphed side-by-side.

Double bar graph of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 1990 and 2004.

1. Examine the double bar graph. What can you conclude about GHG emissions based on this graph? Explain.

Extension Investigation

Answer the following questions based on the data presented in the double bar graph:

2. In which countries did the GHG emissions increase from 1990 to 2004?

3. In which countries did the GHG emissions decrease from 1990 to 2004?

4. For which country did the GHG emissions increase the most from 1990 to 2004?

5. For which country did the GHG emissions decrease the most from 1990 to 2004?

6. Imagine that you are a member of the UNFCCC and are working to reduce the amount of GHG emitted globally. What key pieces of information do you think this graph provides? How would you use this information to reduce GHG emissions globally? Make an action plan that you would present to the UNFCCC.

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Description

Students will use double bar graphs to learn about and analyze the greenhouse gas emissions in different countries. Then students will play the role of a member of the UNFCCC and make a recommendation of how to reduce GHG emissions globally.